Chapter 48: The Coming of Evil

  (Second update, the previous setup is almost over, and we're about to enter the **main storyline**, brothers, rise up! Come on votes!)

  The old lady had been suffering from illness for so many years, and she herself was already indifferent. However, Da Xuheng was a renowned filial son far and near, and seeing Qin Wushuang, a young martial artist, who was close in age to his youngest son Da Xuyang, being able to talk so eloquently, it both shocked him and moved his heart.

  After some thought, filial piety overcame her reserve and she asked in a low voice: "Qin Xiaoge seems to have done quite a bit of research on medicine. Without asking for your advice, can my mother's illness be cured?"

  Pausing for a moment, Qin Wushuang sighed softly: "The stagnation has lasted too long, and the meridians have already atrophied. The hope of fully recovering one's strength is gone, but restoring physical health and prolonging life is not difficult. If treated properly and nurtured reasonably, it may be possible to recover five or six tenths of one's original strength."

  The old lady has been walking on thin ice for many years, and at first, she almost lost her life. Now looking at her complexion, it seems not bad, but it is actually Da Xi Heng who has just used true energy to nourish her. In normal times, the old lady's complexion is dry and withered, and in fact, there are some signs of decline.

  As a filial son, Da Xuheng did not want to see his biological mother suffer such torment. He invited countless famous doctors, but in the end, they were all powerless.

  Qin Wushuang's words were like a river, sounding as if he was an expert. Da Xieheng said that he wasn't moved, but that was false.

  "Whether or not my skills can be restored is secondary, if your mother's illness recovers, Qin Xiaoge, you will be the great benefactor of our family. I must do my best to repay this great kindness."

  Qin Wushuang heard this, only to smile faintly and shift his gaze towards the crowd. After a while, he let out a light sigh: "If anyone from Lujiang County were to hear these words of Da Xue's tribe leader, they might be so stirred up that they wouldn't be able to sleep. But in my eyes, this statement is no different from any ordinary person in this grand hall."

  "Oh?" Da Xi Heng thought he had misheard. This young martial artist from a humble background actually dared to rebuke him?

  "A doctor's heart is like a parent's, the one who can truly cure the old lady's illness may not care about the relationships within the Da family. I told the truth about the old lady's condition only because of my respect for Da Xiong. As for other personal feelings, they are secondary. Perhaps in your eyes as the head of the clan, a single favor from the Da family is enough to make our humble family feel grateful and indebted. Ha ha, but that's actually far from the truth."

  Qin Wushuang, the master of his generation, has a proud and unyielding spirit. He wouldn't lend a hand unless he was willing to do so wholeheartedly, and wouldn't turn a good deed into a transaction. If it were someone else he didn't take a liking to, even if they begged him on their knees, he might not be willing to treat them. But the old lady had given him a very good first impression, which is why he was willing to lend a hand!

  Da Xu Heng was taken aback, and then he burst out laughing. He had a new appreciation for the young martial artist in front of him. He really hadn't expected that this young man from a humble family would have such an impressive side. As the master of a noble house, his temperament and character were naturally extraordinary. He said with a smile: "It seems I was wrong. After the banquet is over, I'd like to ask Young Master Qin to stay behind for a moment, what do you say?"

  "Alright." Qin Wushuang responded with a sentence, but his gaze was fixed on his sister Qin Xiu.

  Daxi Heng let out a silent sigh, but said no more. As for Daxi Ming and Qin Xiu's affair, if not for the marriage arrangement with the powerful Ximen family, he could have easily ignored their difference in social status and allowed them to be together.

  But...

  Just as he was thinking deeply, a long whistle sounded from outside the door and echoed far away: "The West Gate is grand, with guests arriving, please hurry up to welcome them!"

  What's the matter, Ximen?

  The words were like a thunderclap, and the entire audience fell silent. Everyone looked at each other in dismay, not daring to utter a sound. It was as if the four words "Si Men Da Ke" had cast a spell on them, turning them into stone instantly.

  Including Da Xi Heng, he was also stunned, and only then did he suddenly come to his senses, hastily speaking seriously: "Ming Er, Yang Er, follow Father out to welcome the noble guest!"

  Two brothers heard that it was Ximen Dafu who had come as a guest and neither of them dared to be slow, so they hurriedly followed behind their father.

  Qin Wushuang intentionally or unintentionally blocked Qin Xiu's path, saying in a low voice: "Sister, stand behind me."

  It is said that those who come are not good, and the good ones do not come. With Ximen's family background, it is likely that he has come for the sake of marrying Daiyu, with a probability of eight or nine out of ten.

  A moment later, Ximen Qian, dressed in a dragon robe and jade belt, walked up with the support of the three men from the Da Yu family.

  This Westerner is only about thirty years old, with an air of arrogance between his eyebrows. A pair of eyes sharp as a knife, after walking in, two eyes casually swept, almost everyone in the scene, eight or nine out of ten, were chilled to the bone.

  This is the aura of a master!

  A big shot's son, if he doesn't make an appearance, then that's it. But once he does appear, he must dazzle the entire scene. With Ximen Qing arriving at the humble Luo Jiang County, of course, he can't help but show off his family's prestige a bit.

  With this aura urging him on, the effect was indeed extraordinary. In the grand hall, hundreds of people, each with an expression of obedience, either trying to please him, or flattering him, or being humble, all made him feel extremely pleased.

  But when his gaze swept across Qin Wushuang's face, his expression suddenly froze.

  Qin Wushuang smiled calmly, with a face as calm as the wind and clouds, completely ignoring Ximen Qian's deliberate provocation, treating him as if he were thin air.

  Ximen Qian has never been a broad-minded person. If he were a prince of the royal family, he might have put on airs in front of him.

  But who is this? Ximen glanced at Qin Wushuang's clothes, if he wasn't mistaken, that should be the unique decoration of a poor family's child, right?

  This made him very unhappy, extremely unhappy.

  What a ridiculous thing the Xie family has done, a high-ranking aristocratic family like theirs actually allowed a commoner to attend their family banquet. If this gets out, it will be a huge joke in the upper-class social circle.

  "The host of Da Xu's family, this humble gift is not enough to express my respect, please accept it with a smile."

  The short and sturdy man behind Ximen Qian narrowed his eyes into a slit, and handed over a gift with a casual gesture.

  Daxu Heng did not dare to be slow, and respectfully accepted it. For the Ximen family, their gifts didn't need to be scrutinized, and they could simply give one out casually.

  After all, the status of the Dai family is one level higher than that of the Shi family, and their strength cannot be compared. Condescending to them is equivalent to giving them face, and it's not up to the Dai family to pick and choose gifts.

  That refined gentleman's eyes swept across Qin Wushuang's face, and he had already understood Master Ximen Qian's thoughts. This poor scholar was very disrespectful to his master, and couldn't help but suffer some consequences.

  "Ximen Gongzi, please take a seat." Da Yiheng watched with his eyes, but didn't show any expression, and smiled as he invited him.

  Ximen Qianyu didn't stand on ceremony and casually sat down in the seat of honor.

  Among those present, there are many wealthy and influential families. There are also a few young masters from aristocratic families who are classmates of Da Qi Yue's from other states and counties.

  But Dahanzi is a one-of-a-kind store with no branches elsewhere.

  Ximen Qian took that seat, yet no one dared to raise any objections. On the contrary, many people secretly whispered among themselves about how they could get close to this young master of the Ximen family. If they could take advantage of the opportunity to curry favor with Ximen Dafu, this great backer, it would be an unexpected delight.

  The three Xushi brothers, who had already met with Simen Qian in the government office, took advantage of the opportunity to come over and pay their respects. Xu Zhou even whispered a few words into Simen Qian's ear, while casting an unfriendly glance at Qin Wushuang.

  Ximen Qian's mouth was still hanging with that playful smile, and his eyes followed suit. However, this time he directly ignored Qin Wushuang and instead brazenly sized up Qin Xiu.

  Qin Xiu was somewhat intimidated by this impolite gaze and retreated two more steps behind Qin Wushuang.

  "Brother Daxi Mingxian." Ximen Qian suddenly smiled and beckoned to Daxi Ming, "It's been years since we last met, yet your demeanor remains the same. Come, sit here, let us two brothers catch up with each other."

  Da Xu Ming's youth era with Xi Men Qian at the grand banquet of Chi Mu Wang Shou Chen, a move fell defeated, almost became a heart knot, against Xi Men Qian very cautious. At this time, seeing Xi Men Qian first measuring Qin Xiu, then calling out to him, already knew the ins and outs.

  He walked by with a calm and composed demeanor: "As the young master of the Ximen family, how dare you call me brother?"

  Ximen Qing burst out laughing: "No, no! You have a marriage agreement with my sister, which makes you my future brother-in-law. No need to be constrained by social status."

  It's not a profound implication, but it's clear that Da Xue Heng is aware of the relationship between Xi Men Qian and Qin's young lady.

  Ximen Qian suddenly changed his tone: "Recently, there's a rumor going around that you're getting close to a woman from a humble background in Luojiang County. This isn't true, is it?"

  The tone is not severe, but it's full of dark clouds, with a storm brewing behind, and sensitive people can already faintly feel the ominous atmosphere that signals an impending disaster!